SPAIN: An opening ceremony for Valencia metro Line 9 took place on March 6 after a month of test running. The inaugural passenger service from Riba-roja del Túria departed at 13.05.
Line 9 includes a 9·5 km, four-station branch off the western end of lines 3 and 5 at Rosas. After emerging from a short tunnel section, the single-track section runs northwest to Riba-roja del Túria on an alignment that uses parts of the trackbed of the former RENFE Valencia – Líria suburban line. East of Rosas, Line 9 services share track with Line 3, with most terminating at Alboraya-Peris Arago.
Services run every 30 to 40 min. The journey time from Riba-roja del Túria to Xàtiva in Valencia city centre is 32 min. Ridership on the branch to Riba-roja del Túria is expected to be 480 000 passengers/year.
A further 5·9 km extension from Riba-roja del Túria to Vilamarxant with three stations is scheduled to open in 2018.
